Downtime: Changes abound at this year’s Balfa Camp

As you may well know, Louisiana Folk Roots’ Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week, usually held at Chicot State Park, has moved to town at Vermilionville.

Talk about change, eh? But did you know that Vermilionville is the third location for the camp; it all began at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Remember?

As it reads on the Balfa Camp’s website, “Our new location gives us greater capacity, even greater access to local learners, and the possibility of expanding our offerings further in the future.” So there you go.

But wait — there’s even more change.

Balfa Week used to seamlessly merge with Festival International de Louisiane which is held toward the end of April (Festival is April 23-27 this year). But that’s been changed, too, as Balfa Camp is scheduled for April 5-10.

You may be wondering why the camp moved to town. What we heard is that the cabins at Chicot are getting some work.

While you won’t be camping like back in the day, and jammin’ all night, and communing with nature all the while, Vermilionville actually is an appropriate in-town setting with all of the Cajun/Creole historical reenactment things going on.

After all, it’s officially known as Vermilionville Folklife Park and Living History Museum.

But you still need a place to stay, right? Accommodations will be provided by Buchanan Lofts, the Blue Moon Saloon & Guesthouse, Travelodge, the Juliet and Acadiana Park & Campground.

So as some things change, there are the constants. Take the dances. They’re still open to the public and take place at 7:30 p.m. at Vermilionville’s Performance Center. Quite frankly that’s a change I can live with.